I agree with DoubleD..I will state that I hear a lot of ca-ca about muzzle brakes thats just hand me down bla-bla by folks who actually have not used them a heck of a lot...

I see little difference in sound if it is a proper brake and I know the blast of a 378 and other large bores will hurt your hearing with or without a brake...

Many of out clients show up every year in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, RSA, Mozambique, Bostswana with brakes on big guns...We know the brake is on the gun and we make that adjustment, God gave us fingers and earplugs for just such ocassions and if they help a client shoot, and they really do, then we don't have to look old Mbogo, Simba, or Tembo in the eye up close...So I say if the brake helps you then shoot them.

I shot them for a few years with big bores and as a result of taking them off on ocassion I learned to handle any kind of recoil and over a two or three year period left them off more and more and today I don't use them any more, I don't need to..but my big bores are still bloody loud, and I am to smart to be standing next to one going off, but hey, that only happens when you head is up your a$$, and thats no place for your head on a dangerous game hunt.....Most brakes can be taken off and replaced with a thread protector of some sort..Use them at the range and take them off when you hunt, most will maintain the same POI in my experience...if not then leave them on.